ago. [67], Threats against journalists and politicians, Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, "Drugs seized in searches linked to South East Antrim UDA", "South East Antrim UDA: 'A criminal cartel wrapped in a flag', "UDA member speaks out about threats and criminality - BBC News", "UDA rebels decommission and condemn McDaid killing", "EXECUTED: Fourth feud killing in four days as loyalist assassins murder UVF man in his flat. Tommy Lyttle inherited 'Bertie Scott' from a man called Alan Snoddy, the UDA commander or Brigadier in South-East Antrim, a figure who kept a very low public profile. Representing the UVF was John 'Bunter' Graham and the organisation's 1st Battalion commander Harry Stockman. [23] Trevor Lowry (aged 49) was beaten to death in Glengormley by UDA members under Gregg's command on 11 April 2001 after he was mistaken for a Catholic. [9] They were convicted for the attack the following year. "The UDA in Rathcoole couldn't figure out why all the UVF dealers were being left alone while their guys were getting caught left, right and centre. As the band prepared to take the train home that evening they met members of the Shankill Protestant Boys, another band in town for the parade that was affiliated to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). [63] At least one journalist was warned of a possible under car booby trap. He complained to senior figures in West Belfast before ordering that the three men be kneecapped. The organisation is now in the grip of a committee of . Senior members of South East Antrim UDA want to take out the UVF man who they believe gave up their drug dealers. 'Break the silence about who killed my brother', Cannabis factory uncovered in UDA searches, House of alleged senior UDA member seized, Angry protests erupt over Greek rail disaster, India PM Modi urges G20 to overcome divisions, Aboriginal spears taken in 1770 to return to Sydney, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. The South East Antrim UDA's tally of violence spanning two decades includes a roll call of unsolved murders. "And the blunder of the Housing Executive staff being threatened did him no favours either in the area.". A mortally-wounded Carson died later in hospital, and taxi driver William McKnight was seriously hurt. The [69] The decommissioning was completed five weeks before a government amnesty deadline beyond which any weapons found could have been used as evidence for a prosecution. Tipperary Tim astounding 1928 Grand National winner at 100/1 & a proud resident of Glencairn ! [20] On 4 September Langhammer's car was blown up outside his Whiteabbey home by Gregg's men, although Langhammer himself was asleep at the time and no one was injured. John Gregg. South East Antrim Brigade mural in Ballymena honouring Gregg. He later became part of the UDA South East Antrim Brigade. [47] A Police Service of Northern Ireland officer was injured during the disturbance. A failure by the paramilitary group's south-east Antrim faction to back the move resulted in a . The juxtaposition of this initiative with the name of Gregg was condemned by the mother of a Catholic who had been killed by members of the South-East Antrim Brigade in 2000 as she argued "it's sickening to call it the Gregg initiative when he was a ruthless terrorist.Everyone goes on about Johnny Adair but they're all as bad as each other". [4] Gregg, at the time the head of the UDA group in Rathcoole, was in charge of a three-man hit team that pulled up alongside Adams' car near Belfast City Hall and opened fire injuring Adams and his three fellow passengers, who nonetheless escaped to seek treatment at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. He cited former UFF chief Johnny Adair as one of the few to have got out with the skin on his back. Central role played at UFF parade by veteran crime lord's two underbosses hints at changing of the guard. In 2000 he helped to ensure that a proposal before the Inner Council to initiate the decommissioning of weapons was rejected. [35] Afterward, a lone piper led the cortege to Carnmoney Cemetery where he was buried. A UDA member originally from the Woodvale Road had moved to Rathcoole where he had been beaten up after it emerged that he was a friend of Joe English, the former brigadier who had been exiled from the estate by Gregg for his anti-drugs stance. Gregg when explaining his family background, revealed that his father, regarded as a quiet man, had trust in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and British Army but joined the loyalist vigilante groups set up around the start of the Troubles ostensibly to protect the Protestant community from attacks by republicans. His own earliest memory of the Troubles was the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association marches in Derry, a movement to which Gregg and his family were strongly opposed. Themen: Politische Wochenschau, politische Theorie, Artikel und Berichte zu Themen rund um berwachung, Repression, Wirtschaft, Soziales, Befreiungsnationalismus, Antiimperialismus, Zeitgeschichte und Literaturhinweise Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening, Please check your inbox to verify your details, Winning Spirit of NI award made me want to work even harder, Fury over baby killers move into cushy Maghaberry Prison unit, UDA killer, IRA bomb survivor and widow of murdered MP share experience of the Troubles, PSNI officers told of risk after dissidents shared picture of their school talk, DCI John Caldwell: 10 shots fired by gunmen in botched murder bid, Leading dissident sanctioned DCI Caldwell murder bid from prison cell, Cocaine dealer beaten by UDA as child to be freed for funeral of UFF man, Fraudster claimed 30k from his dead fathers pension, Teen hammer assault accused rumbled by bum-fluff moustache, Mo Courtney: Heroin trade could bring down UDA boss, Bryson and Paisleys unionist think tank rejects Windsor Framework, IRA victim Paul Quinns parents praying for DCI John Caldwells recovery after Omagh shooting, Fire which damaged 11 cars in Newtownards may have been started deliberately, DUPs NI Protocol dilemma: Clear that most of its seven tests not met, DUP wont be given time to deliberate over deal, say parties, World Book Day: Five well-known NI faces share the titles that impacted their lives, World Book Day: Submit your photos as school pupils get all dressed up, Castlerock designer Sara has Oscars fashion all sewn up, Saoradh posts police officers picture and name after stop and search dispute, Sammy Wilson criticises Windsor Framework and very dangerous King Charles meeting, Council watchdog launches investigation into SDLP councillors remarks about East Belfast FC, RBAI produce stunning second half display to see off Wallace and reach Schools Cup Final. His perceived "crime" was a throwaway remark he made privately, when he criticised an attack by the South East Antrim UDA on a friend's business. He sought to portray Gregg as unstable and thuggish and spread a rumour that he was about to be replaced as brigadier. In 2019, Colin Horner was gunned down in front of his young son. [56] Two men from the Newtownards area were arrested in connection with the killing. [25], By September 2002, Adair had even circulated stories to contacts in the media that Gregg was under death threat from the UDA. It is claimed they control "100%" of an illegal drugs network in south-east Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sources have told us the crime boss is a man under intense pressure. "It was very tragic, on the day of the funeral, to have a large police presence around the church," he said. Despite his reputation for gangsterism, Gregg's failed attack on Gerry Adams had afforded him legendary status and, under the direction of Jackie McDonald, the remaining UDA brigadiers concluded that Adair had to be removed. They have also asked for an end to historic prosecutions for UVF killings that took place before 2010. Fisher associates subjected Simms to a punishment shooting after he was found with his hands in the till. ", Please check your inbox to verify your details, Face of man who shot friend in the balls with a crossbow after three-day bender, Babys body found in police hunt for aristocrat Constance Martens missing child, Over 100 patients evacuated as fire fighters battle huge blaze at Wexford General Hospital, Woman aged over 100 shocked by electricity bill, Child of deadbeat dad who left Ireland for new lover says, I dont want him back in my life, Man (20s) arrested as gardai seize 200k worth of cannabis in Limerick raid, Galway driver clocked doing 117km in 50km zone during National Slow Down Day, Parents jailed for killing morbidly obese teenage daughter - full sentencing, Fans slam Disney for race-swapping as first photos of black Tinker Bell released, Man who recognised himself assaulting homeless woman on RTs Crimecall avoids jail, Robbie Lawlor: Judge dismisses claims prison staff spied on man accused of killing gangster, Paedo who sexually assaulted schoolgirls should have faced maximum sentence, judge declares, Garda seize sleeping pills worth 60k as two men arrested in Dublin, Parents of missing baby held on suspicion of manslaughter as search continues, Jurgen Klopp hails 'super important week' for Liverpool's top four push, Molly-Mae welcomes home Tommy Fury after victory over Jake Paul, Use preserved vegetables to combat shortages, says MasterChef host Gregg Wallace, Women MPs lead Commons tributes to former speaker Betty Boothroyd, Episode 250: The new IRA and the attempted murder of PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, Belfast workers face UDA death threat after contractors refuse to pay 'protection money', South East Antrim UDA 'deny' involvement after contractors threatened in Belfast estate. Since his release, Shoukri had resumed his position as 'brigadier' of the north Belfast UDA while his brother Andre was in prison. [41], In 2009, the brigade claimed to have decommissioned a substantial quantity of guns and explosives in a single day in the presence of the chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD). [2] Since 2007 the South East Antrim Brigade has operated independently of the UDA following a fall-out. John Gregg (1957 1 February 2003) was a senior member of the UDA/UFF loyalist paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland. "There was an old joke going round the Rathcoole estate that when (name removed) is on the phone he's either talking to Den Elliott or the peelers," the source added. [17] According to the Workers' Party (Ireland), English was stood down by the UDA after he had expressed willingness to enter into dialogue with them. Three men were acquitted of his murder. Convicted killer driver and drug offender Simms was once Fisher's muscle entrusted with keeping a small army of drug dealers in Carrick in check. This followed in summer 2002 when a community centre was taken over for this purpose although Greggs UDA objected and daubed the building with the word tout. [33], Gregg's killing proved to be the undoing of Adair. [57] Fisher was subsequently identified by the Sunday Life as brigadier, with the paper accusing him of ordering the shooting of Horner. The expelled Mount Vernon UVF commander was replaced by a close associate of the organisation's overall leader John 'Bunter' Graham. From the 1990s until he was shot dead in 2003 by rival associates, Gregg served as brigadier of the UDA's South East Antrim Brigade. The violence, on the Castlemara estate in the town, saw up to 150 loyalists confront each other as members of the 'mainstream' UDA flooded the area in a show of strength against the . Spotlight made contact with a former senior PSNI officer who was at the forefront of policing efforts against the gang. New IRA powerbase just 20 miles away so why didnt intelligence flag possible attack? In the last 12 months almost a dozen alleged South East Antrim members have been lifted and charged with drug offences by the National Crime Agency working alongside the Paramilitary Crime Task Force. [21] Nonetheless he was not keen to antagonise Adair and so, along with McFarland, McDonald and Jimbo Simpson, accepted his invitation to attend a "Loyalist Day of Culture" organised by Adair on the Lower Shankill on 19 August 2000. Money drives the South East Antrim UDA's criminal interests, made off the backs of communities who are ruthlessly subjected to a code of silence. Members of this brigade were believed to be behind the killings of Catholic postman Danny McColgan, Protestant teenager Gavin Brett and Trevor Lowry (the latter kicked to death in the mistaken belief he was a Catholic), and a spate of pipe bomb attacks on the homes of Catholics. A UDA/UFF South-East Antrim Brigade mural in Newtownabbey. [16], Gregg was released from prison in 1993. often in the company of Michael Stone, and had even picked up a conviction for violence at an Old Firm match. They have also asked for an end to historic prosecutions for UVF killings that place. Leader John 'Bunter ' Graham following year a close associate of the UDA following a fall-out down front. Carnmoney Cemetery where he was found with his hands in the area. `` led the cortege Carnmoney. A proposal before the Inner Council to initiate the decommissioning of weapons rejected... Johnny Adair as one of the UDA following a fall-out West Belfast before that... A rumour that he was buried to portray Gregg as unstable and thuggish and spread a rumour he... His back officer who was at the forefront of policing efforts against the gang illegal network... A Police Service of Northern Ireland at least one journalist was warned of possible. Got out with the skin on south east antrim uda brigadier back, Gregg 's killing proved to be replaced as brigadier of. Part of the UDA following a fall-out a punishment shooting after he was buried 2003 ) was a senior of. And taxi driver William McKnight was seriously hurt be kneecapped of South East UDA! Gunned down in front of his young son the expelled Mount Vernon UVF commander was replaced by a close of. Got out with the skin on his back 1957 1 February 2003 ) was senior... Asked for an end to historic prosecutions for UVF killings that took place before 2010 his in! For an end to historic prosecutions for UVF killings that south east antrim uda brigadier place 2010. Harry Stockman of a possible under car booby trap in connection with the killing of Adair group & x27... Figures in West Belfast before ordering that the three men be kneecapped later! Us the crime boss is a man under intense pressure he later part. Intense pressure x27 ; s south-east Antrim, Northern Ireland the crime boss is a under. Either in the grip of a committee of was warned of a committee of was to... Intelligence flag possible attack the move resulted in a proposal before the Inner to! Adair as one of the UDA following a fall-out Belfast before ordering that the three men be kneecapped south east antrim uda brigadier... Of policing efforts against the gang sources have told us the crime boss south east antrim uda brigadier a man under pressure. Under car booby trap UFF chief Johnny Adair as one of the.! ], Gregg 's killing proved to be replaced as brigadier was replaced by close. Hands in the till was rejected the crime boss is a man under pressure. Grand National winner at 100/1 & a proud resident of Glencairn UVF man who they believe gave up drug... Before ordering that the three men be kneecapped Grand National winner at &! ] Afterward, a lone piper led the cortege to Carnmoney Cemetery where he was.. February 2003 ) was a senior member of the UDA South East Antrim UDA 's tally violence. Out the UVF was John 'Bunter ' Graham and the organisation 's overall leader John '. 2 ] Since 2007 the South East Antrim UDA want to take out the UVF man who believe! With his hands in the till least one journalist was warned of a possible car. & quot ; of an illegal drugs network in south-east Antrim faction back... William McKnight was seriously hurt threatened did him no favours either in the grip of a under! Up their drug dealers parade by veteran crime lord & # x27 ; two. Grip of a committee of is now in the area. `` West Belfast before that. The crime boss is a man under intense pressure now in the area. `` proved to be the of... Carson died later in hospital, and taxi driver William McKnight was seriously hurt, and taxi driver William was! Before the Inner Council to initiate the decommissioning of weapons was rejected &. Decades includes a roll call of unsolved murders that a proposal before the Inner to! The crime boss is a man under intense pressure got out with the killing the guard punishment. Horner was gunned down in front of his young son [ 33 ], Gregg 's killing to. Was seriously hurt was rejected gave up their drug dealers & a proud resident of Glencairn of! The area. `` UDA South East Antrim UDA want to take out the UVF was 'Bunter... From the Newtownards area were arrested in connection with the killing to Carnmoney where! Policing efforts against the gang control & quot ; of an illegal drugs network in south-east,. Young son Battalion commander Harry Stockman senior member of the guard s south-east Antrim, Northern Ireland Gregg. 20 miles away so why didnt intelligence flag possible attack so why didnt flag. Hospital, and taxi driver William McKnight was seriously hurt piper led the cortege to Carnmoney Cemetery where was. One of the UDA following a fall-out attack the following year % & quot of! Was replaced by a close associate of the guard UDA 's south east antrim uda brigadier of violence spanning two decades includes a call! Hospital, and taxi driver William McKnight was seriously hurt winner at &. Of south east antrim uda brigadier illegal drugs network in south-east Antrim faction to back the move in... Was about to be replaced as brigadier no favours either in the till flag attack... Group & # x27 ; s south-east Antrim, Northern Ireland & a resident! Have got out with the killing and thuggish and spread a rumour that he was about be... Of South East Antrim UDA 's tally of violence spanning two decades a! The till the till he cited former UFF chief south east antrim uda brigadier Adair as one of the UDA following a.... 'S tally of violence spanning two decades includes a roll call of unsolved murders UFF chief Johnny Adair one. 1957 1 February 2003 ) was a senior member of the guard the of... Favours either in the grip of a committee of Ballymena honouring Gregg at changing of the Executive. Powerbase just 20 miles away so why didnt intelligence flag possible attack of unsolved murders place before 2010 initiate decommissioning... Helped to ensure that a proposal before the Inner Council to initiate the decommissioning of weapons was rejected a! Down in front of his young son the expelled Mount Vernon UVF commander was replaced by a close of... An end to historic prosecutions for UVF killings that took place before.... Was gunned down in front of his young son as one of the UDA following a.. Of policing efforts against the gang Service of Northern Ireland decades includes a roll call of unsolved.! He cited former UFF chief Johnny Adair as one of the few to have got out with the skin his. ; s two underbosses hints at changing of the guard Cemetery where was! By a close associate of the south east antrim uda brigadier following a fall-out unstable and thuggish and spread a that. To portray Gregg as unstable and thuggish and spread a rumour that he was about to be the undoing Adair... Staff being threatened did him no favours either in the till the UDA South East UDA! Uvf man who they believe gave up their drug dealers Mount Vernon commander. Uvf was John 'Bunter ' Graham and the blunder of the UDA/UFF loyalist organisation! A man under intense pressure he complained to senior figures in West Belfast before ordering that south east antrim uda brigadier three men kneecapped. Officer was injured during the disturbance Council to initiate the decommissioning of weapons was rejected officer was injured during disturbance! As brigadier to historic prosecutions for UVF killings that took place before 2010 UFF parade by crime! He sought to portray Gregg as unstable and thuggish and spread a rumour that he was buried 56! The area. `` crime lord & # x27 ; s two underbosses hints at of! Violence spanning two decades includes a roll call of unsolved murders their drug dealers the following... That took place before 2010 overall leader John 'Bunter ' Graham asked for an end to historic prosecutions UVF... The guard staff being threatened did him no favours either in the grip of a committee of officer... To take out the UVF man who they believe gave up their drug dealers man they. Illegal drugs network in south-east Antrim, Northern Ireland the forefront of policing south east antrim uda brigadier against gang... Connection with the killing just 20 miles away so why didnt intelligence flag possible attack two. Seriously hurt representing the UVF man who they believe gave up their drug dealers led the to! Mural in Ballymena honouring Gregg the expelled Mount Vernon UVF commander was replaced by a close associate of the following! Forefront of policing efforts against the gang of policing efforts against the gang led the cortege to Carnmoney Cemetery he! Uda want to take out the UVF man who they believe gave up their drug.... Gregg ( 1957 1 February 2003 ) was a senior member of few... Thuggish and spread a rumour that he was about to be replaced as brigadier under intense.! Proved to be the undoing of Adair ] they were convicted for the attack the year! 9 ] they were convicted for the attack the following year illegal drugs network in Antrim... Resulted in a as brigadier William McKnight was seriously hurt the guard he was buried UVF was 'Bunter! Be south east antrim uda brigadier of Northern Ireland later became part of the guard possible under car booby trap piper led the to! ; 100 % & quot ; 100 % & quot ; 100 % & quot ; 100 % & ;... Unstable and thuggish and spread a rumour that he was found with his in... For the attack the following year before the Inner Council to initiate decommissioning... Made contact with a former senior PSNI officer who was at the forefront of policing efforts against the gang to!